Apparatus for Hanging Curtains

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for attaching a cable for hanging curtains to a bracket mounted on a wall and for tensioning the cable, has a clamp mountable on the bracket and a receiver for capturing an end of the cable. The clamp and receiver can be screwed together to secure the cable to the bracket while tensioning the cable. For long curtain spans, a clamp may be mounted on an intermediate bracket with two receivers attached to and extending from the clamp in opposite directions for supporting two cables in alignment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus, for hanging curtains infront of a wall or window, including a cable from which the curtains maybe hung, either directly or by means of rings, hooks, clips or otherknown curtain fasteners. More specifically, the invention provides forhanging a supplemental set of curtains on a cable supported onconventional brackets which are used to mount a conventional curtain rodin front of a wall or window.

It is known in the art to hang curtains in front of a wall or window bymeans of a rigid or telescoping rod mounted on brackets which arescrewed to and extend outwardly from the surface of a wall above thearea to be covered by the curtains. It is also known to hang more thanone set of curtains, each with its own curtain rod, by supporting therods in parallel spaced relationship on a common set of brackets whichare screwed to and extend outwardly from the surface of a wall above thearea to be covered by the curtains.

The use of a cable as a substitute for a rigid or telescoping rod forhanging curtains has recently become popular. There are differentrequirements for supporting curtains on a flexible cable, which must betensioned to prevent sagging under the weight of the curtains, versusthe use of a rigid or telescoping rod which need only be supported atits ends, and possibly at one or more intermediate points in the case ofvery long rods.

Until the present invention, when two sets of curtains were to be hung,one in front of the other, and one set was to be suspended from a rigidor telescoping rod while the other set was to be suspended from aflexible cable, separate sets of brackets were required, i.e., cablebrackets and rod brackets. This required drilling the wall in separatelocations for each set of brackets.

In addition to the damage which is done to the walls, and the cost ofthe additional brackets, there are further disadvantages to thenecessity for two sets of brackets. The elevations of each set ofcurtains, not only with respect to the adjacent window, floor orceiling, but also with respect to each other, can be critical toachieving an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also, multiple sets ofbrackets, particularly in crowded installations, can interfere with oneanother.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of priorart curtain cable mounting systems in providing an adapter mountable ona conventional curtain rod bracket for tautly supporting a cable wherebya first set of curtains can be mounted on a rigid or telescoping rodsupported by a pair of brackets and a second set of curtains can hungfrom a cable connected to adapters which are, in turn, respectivelymounted on the brackets.

In a first embodiment of the invention, suitable for use withcylindrical curtain rod support brackets, each adapter is in the form ofa closed ring having a cylindrical opening substantially congruent to across section of the curtain rod bracket transverse to the axis of thebracket. Each adapter used to support an end of a cable has a singlescrew projecting radially from its outer circumference for receiving acable retainer having a threaded cylindrical bore complementary to thethreads on the screw of the adapter, the cable retainer further having anarrower bore for snugly receiving an end of the cable which is securedto the cable retainer by one or more set screws.

For curtains having a long enough span to require an intermediatebracket for supporting a correspondingly long curtain rod (or the endsof two or more curtain rods coaxially mounted end-to-end) an adapter isprovided in the form of a closed ring with two screws projecting indiametrically opposite directions from the outer circumference of thering. Each screw can receive a cable retainer as described above. Thatis, two cables can be supported end-to-end, with their innermost endssecured in respective cable retainers that can be threaded onto theoppositely projecting screws of a single ring adapter.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rings from which theadapters are formed can be tapered so that two such rings, each withonly one projecting screw, can be mounted on a common intermediatebracket side-by-side with their respective screws projecting indiametrically opposite directions while maintaining coaxial alignment.In this way two or more cables may be mounted end-to-end and inalignment. A single adapter design can suffice for use singly at eitherend of the curtain span and, in pairs, at each intermediate supportbracket.

The apparatus of the invention is not limited to brackets havingcylindrical members. In still another embodiment of the invention,instead of a circular ring, the adapter is in the form of a squared offor rectangular C-clamp for mounting on a conventional right angle wallbracket. For use at the end of a curtain span, one of two parallel legsof each C-clamp is provided with a transversely outwardly projectingscrew for receiving a cable retainer as described above. For use on anintermediately placed bracket, each of the two parallel legs of eachC-clamp can be provided with a transversely outwardly projecting screw,the oppositely pointing screws being in coaxial alignment for supportingtwo respective cables end-to-end and in mutual alignment.

Finally, as in the case of the circular ring adapters described above,each C-clamp having a single screw can have a tapered width whereby twosuch C-clamps, each with only one projecting screw, can be mountedside-by-side on a common intermediate bracket with their respectivescrews projecting in diametrically opposite directions while maintainingcoaxial alignment in order to enable two or more cables to be mountedend-to-end in mutual alignment. A single C-clamp adapter design cansuffice for use at either end of the curtain span, and, by doubling upinto pairs, at each intermediate flat support bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an apparatus for hanging curtains inaccordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 a is a front elevation view of another apparatus for hangingcurtains in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 2 b is a top plan view of said another apparatus for hangingcurtains in accordance with the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for hanging curtains inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 a is a side elevation view of an adapter for use in the apparatusfor hanging curtains in accordance with the first embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 b is a top elevation view of the adapter shown in FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 5 a is a side elevation view of another adapter for use in theapparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 5 b is a top elevation view of the adapter shown in FIG. 5 a.

FIG. 6 a is a side elevation view of a cable retainer for use in theapparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 6 b is an end view of the cable retainer shown in FIG. 6 a from oneend of said cable retainer.

FIG. 6 c is an end view of the cable retainer shown in FIG. 6 a from anopposite end of said cable retainer.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing, in part, how to assemble theapparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a first embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of supplemental components for use in theapparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with said first embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 9 a is a side elevation view of a modified adapter for use in theapparatus shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 b is a top view of the modified adapter shown in FIG. 9 a.

FIG. 9 c is a perspective view of the modified adapter shown in FIG. 9a.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of supplemental components for use in theapparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a second embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 11 a is a top view of an adapter for use in the apparatus forhanging curtains in accordance with the second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 11 b is a side elevation view of the adapter shown in FIG. 11 a.

FIG. 12 a is a top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 b is a side elevation view of the portion of the apparatus shownin FIG. 12 a.

FIG. 13 a is a top view of another adapter for use in the apparatus forhanging curtains in accordance with the second embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 13 b is a side elevation view of the adapter shown in FIG. 13 a.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an apparatus for hanging curtains inaccordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.14.

FIG. 16 is an assembled view of the portion of the apparatus shown inFIG. 15.

FIG. 17 a is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus shownin FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 b is a bottom view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG.17 a.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of two modified adapters as they are to beplaced side by side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a prior artcable support system for curtains having a cable 1 each end of which isclamped within a holder 3 mounted on a base 5. The bases 5 are, in turn,affixed to parallel facing wall surfaces 7, for example, by a screwpassed through the a center opening in each base (not shown).

Referring now to FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, in another prior art cable supportsystem for curtains, for use in environments where the use of facingwalls for supporting cable brackets is not feasible, end brackets 11 aremounted on a wall in front of which the curtains are to be hung. Eachbracket 11 has a base 13, a spacer 15 and a holder 17 for a cable 9. Forlong curtain spans, a central bracket 12 may be used to support anintermediate portion of the cable 9.

The prior art cable mounting systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a,b must beused independently of, and in addition to, any other brackets which maybe present for supporting a conventional rigid or telescoping curtainrod.

Turning now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a cable supportsystem in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention.Two conventional cylindrical brackets 21 are mounted on a wall 23 forsupporting a rigid or telescoping curtain rod 25 as is known in the art.Circumscribing each bracket 21 is a clamp in the form of a circular ringadapter 26 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 a,b and 5 a,b. Connected to eachring adapter is a receiver in the form of a cable retainer 27, best seenin FIGS. 6 a-c, which is secured to an end of the cable 29.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 a,b-5 a,b, each ring adapter 26 is in thegenerally shape of the locus of a rectangle spaced from and rotatedabout a parallel axis through the center of the ring. Extending from theouter circumference of each ring adapter 26 in a radial direction is aclamp connector in the form of a screw 31.

Turning now to FIGS. 6 a-c, each cable retainer 27 is in the shape of ahollow stepped cylinder as seen in FIG. 6 a. The cable retainer 27 has anarrow length 30 running inwardly from one end with an outer diameterand inner diameter less than the respective outer diameter and innerdiameter of the remaining wider length 32 which runs inwardly from theopposite end of the cable retainer. The narrow length 30 and widerlength 32 are connected at a sloped circular region 34 of the exteriorof the cable retainer 27.

A receiver connector in the form of a hollow bore 36 in the wider lengthof the body of the cable retainer 27 has a diameter and is threadedcomplementary to the diameter and thread of the screw 31 on the adapter26 whereby the cable retainer can be threaded onto the screw 31 forbeing affixed to the adapter 26 and the bracket 11 on which the adapter26 is mounted.

The narrow length 30 of the cable retainer 27 has an axial bore 38 witha diameter only slightly greater than the diameter of the cable 9 forenabling an end of the cable 9 to be snugly received therewithin. Twoset screws 40 threaded into apertures penetrating the full thickness ofthe circular wall of the narrow length 30 of the cable retainer 27 canbe tightened to secure an end of the cable 9 within the cable retainer27.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the narrowlength 30 of the cable retainer 27, proximate the sloped circular region34 of the cable retainer 27 is provided with diametrically oppositeholes 42 which fully penetrate the circular wall of the narrow length ofthe cable retainer 27. An Allen wrench 45 sized to fit the set screws 40can be passed through the holes 42 thereby enabling the Allen wrench tobe used as a lever for rotating either or both cable retainers 27 totension the attached cable by threading each cable retainer 27 furtheronto its respective screw 31 as shown in FIG. 7.

In order to minimize twisting of the cable during tightening of thecable retainers 27, the cable 9 may be pretwisted before attachment ofits ends to its cable retainers 27 in a direction such that as the cableretainers 33 are tightened onto the screws 31, the cable 9 will untwist.Alternatively, the screw 31 on an adapter used to secure one end of acable can be provided with a thread opposite in direction to the threadon the adapter screw 31 used to secure the opposite end of the cable.With this type of arrangement, the retainers can be rotated, oneclockwise and the other counterclockwise, for tensioning the cablewithout twisting the cable.

In use, the cable(s) 9 can be passed through a channel sewn into acurtain rod before being screwed onto the adapters 26. Alternatively,curtain rings or hooks may be passed over the ends of and onto thecable.

Referring now to FIG. 8, where curtains having a long span are to behung, and an intermediate bracket 51 is wall mounted intermediate endbrackets 11, an adapter 52 similar to the ones shown if FIGS. 4 a,b and5 a,b, but having two screws 53 extending in diametrically oppositedirections (see FIGS. 9 a-c) can be used.

Another embodiment of the invention will now be described with referenceto FIGS. 10-13 b. Here each adapter 61 has a tapered width. A singleadapter 61 can be used on each end bracket 11. Two of the same adapters61 may be placed side-by-side on the same intermediate bracket withtheir respective single screws 63 extending in diametrically oppositeand coaxial directions as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 12 a,b.

The adapter clamp 61 has a profile with a one side parallel to a centralaxis of the clamp connector screw 63 and an opposite tapered sideinclined relative to the central axis of screw 63. The distance betweenthe central axis of the screw 63 and parallel side 64 of the clamp bodyis such as to enable two identical clamps to be placed on a singlebracket with the tapered sides 66 of each clamp in abuttingrelationship, and said central axes of the clamp connector screws 63 inmutual alignment The average of the maximum and minimum distancesbetween sides 64 and 66 measured orthogonally to the side 66 is equal tothe distance between the central axis of each clamp connector screw 63and the parallel clamp profile side 64.

The invention is not limited to circular brackets. By using anappropriately shaped adapter, a cable may be mounted on an existingconventional flat bracket extending from a wall.

Referring now to FIGS. 14-16, there is shown a curtain installation withconventional right angle wall brackets 65 including a forward projectingmember 67 having a substantially rectangular cross section with achannel for receiving a slider 69 terminating in a U-shaped holder 71for receiving a curtain rod 73.

There is removably mounted on the slider 69 of the bracket 65, as shownin FIG. 14, an adapter 75 in the form of a squared off or rectangularC-clamp 61. Each of two parallel members of the C-clamp 61 has a lip 77for forming a channel 79 having a width substantially equal to the widthof the slider 69. The other parallel member of the C-clamp 75 isapertured for receiving a set screw 81 that can be tightened against theslider 69 for securing the C-clamp adapter 75 to the bracket 65.

The C-clamp 75 is shown in FIGS. 17 a and b. For use on intermediatebrackets, the C-clamp 75 can have two screws projecting in oppositedirections while maintaining coaxial alignment. Alternatively, eachC-clamp can be tapered whereby two such C-clamps, each with a singlescrew can be mounted side-by-side with their screws directed in oppositedirections while also maintaining coaxial alignment as shown in FIG. 18.

It is to be appreciated that the ring and C-clamp described above, intheir several forms, are two of many possible variations of adaptersthat can be attached to a bracket for a rigid or telescoping curtainrod, for supporting a curtain cable without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. For example, instead of the screw being on aclamp for being threaded into a receiver, the clamp may be provided witha threaded bore in a wall of its body for receiving the threads of ascrew extending from the receiver.

1. Apparatus for attaching an end of at least one cable, used forhanging curtains, to a bracket mounted on a wall, and for tensioningsaid one cable, comprising, a clamp mountable on said bracket, a firstreceiver having an axial bore for receiving said end of said one cable,and a first cable fastener for capturing said end of said one cablewithin said bore, said clamp having a first clamp connector and saidfirst receiver having a first receiver connector complementary to saidfirst clamp connector for connecting said first receiver to said clamp,one of said first clamp connector and said first receiver connectorcomprising a first screw, and the other of said first clamp connectorand said first receiver connector comprising a body with a firstcylindrical bore into which said first screw can be threaded fortensioning said one cable.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid clamp comprises a circular ring having a central aperture throughwhich a cylindrical bracket can be passed.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein said clamp has a rectangular opening in which arectangular bracket can be received.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3wherein said clamp comprises a C-clamp.
 5. Apparatus according to claim1 wherein said first receiver comprises a first set screw projectinginto said axial bore for engaging and securing said one cable. 6.Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising, a second receiver having anaxial bore for receiving one end of a second cable and a second cablefastener for capturing said one end of said second cable within saidaxial bore of said second receiver, said clamp further having a secondclamp connector and said second receiver having a second receiverconnector complementary to said second clamp connector for connectingsaid second receiver to said clamp, one of said second clamp connectorand said second receiver connector comprising a second screw, and theother of said second clamp connector and said second receiver connectorcomprising a body with a second cylindrical bore into which said secondscrew can be threaded for tensioning said second cable, whereby saidclamp can be mounted on a single bracket for supporting respective endsof said one cable and said second cable.
 7. Apparatus according to claim6 wherein said one of said first screw and said first cylindrical boreon said clamp and said one of said second screw and said secondcylindrical bore on said clamp are coaxial and extend in oppositedirections.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clamp has aprofile with a one side parallel to a central axis of said first clampconnector and an opposite side inclined relative to said central axis ofsaid first clamp connector, the distance between said one side and saidcentral axis of said first clamp connector enabling two identical clampsto be placed on a single bracket with said opposite side of one of saidtwo identical clamps in abutting relationship with said opposite side ofthe other of said two identical clamps and said central axis of saidfirst clamp connector of said one of said two identical clamps inalignment with said central axis of said first clamp connector of saidother of said two identical clamps.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 9wherein the average of the maximum distance between said one side andsaid opposite side measured orthogonally to said one side and theminimum distance between said one side and said opposite side measuredorthogonally to said one side is equal to the distance between saidcentral axis of said first clamp connector and said one side measuredorthogonally to said one side.
 10. Apparatus for hanging curtains on awall comprising, a wall mountable bracket; a first clamp removablymountable on said bracket, a first cable, a first receiver having anaxial bore for receiving an end of said first cable, and a first cablefastener for capturing said end of said first cable within said bore,said first clamp having a first clamp connector and said first receiverhaving a first receiver connector complementary to said first clampconnector for connecting said first receiver to said first clamp, one ofsaid first clamp connector and said first receiver connector comprisinga first screw, and the other of said first clamp connector and saidfirst receiver connector comprising a body with a first cylindrical boreinto which said first screw can be threaded for tensioning said onecable.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said bracket has acylindrical cross section and said first clamp comprises a circular ringhaving a central aperture through which said cylindrical bracket can bepassed.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said bracket has arectangular cross section said first clamp has a rectangular opening inwhich said rectangular bracket can be received.
 13. Apparatus accordingto claim 12 wherein said first clamp comprises a C-clamp.
 14. Apparatusaccording to claim 10 wherein said first receiver comprises a first setscrew projecting into said axial bore for engaging and securing saidfirst cable.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 10 comprising, a secondcable, a second receiver having an axial bore for receiving one end ofsaid second cable and a second cable fastener for capturing said one endof said second cable within said axial bore of said second receiver,said first clamp further having a second clamp connector and said secondreceiver having a second receiver connector complementary to said secondclamp connector for connecting said second receiver to said first clamp,one of said second clamp connector and said second receiver connectorcomprising a second screw, and the other of said second clamp connectorand said second receiver connector comprising a body with a secondcylindrical bore into which said second screw can be threaded fortensioning said second cable, whereby said first clamp can be mounted ona single bracket for supporting respective ends of said first cable andsaid second cable.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said oneof said first screw and said first cylindrical bore on said first clampand said one of said second screw and said second cylindrical bore onsaid first clamp are coaxial and extend in opposite directions. 17.Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first clamp has a profilewith a one side parallel to a central axis of said first clamp connectorand an opposite side inclined relative to said central axis of saidfirst clamp connector, and further comprising a second clamp identicalto said first clamp, said first and second clamps being on a singlebracket in abutment with one another with the central axes of theirrespective first clamp connectors in axial alignment.